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Touching Up My Teeth

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I’m getting dental crowns put on my front teeth and I would like to touch up my teeth. I used to whiten regularly but haven’t had as much time Lately. However, I don’t want to get crowns put on permanently without first getting my teeth the color I want. My dentist can’t really tell me how long to whiten to get them back where they were. Do you have any guidance for me. Is there a certain amount of days/weeks that I need to whiten? What about the number of hours each day. Also, is there a required period of time between whitening and when it is okay to get the dental crowns?

Angela

Dear Angela,

teeth whiteninging trays

There is a general principle with teeth whitening that I can give you, but not specific “wear it for this long for this many days” type of instructions. The basic principle is that the longer you wear the gel, the faster your teeth will whiten. You will get the fastest results by wearing the aligners overnight, but it’s not required.

If you wear them for a short time each day, then you’ll have to whiten for more weeks. If you wear them a long time each day, then you will end up needing to wear them for fewer weeks. The one thing that does have a definitive time period is the time between when you stop whitening and when you have your porcelain crown is placed.

Even after you stop whitening your teeth, the oxidation will continue to whiten your teeth for up to two weeks after you stop using the gel. After that period of time, the color will have settled and you can plan your porcelain crowns.

I will tell you that I am a bit concerned that your dentist could not explain this to you. Teeth whitening is one of the easiest of cosmetic procedures a dentist can do. Putting dental crowns on front teeth is one of the more advanced of procedures a dentist can do. If teeth whitening is tricky for him, you may be better off finding an expert cosmetic dentist to do your crowns.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Review of Premium Home Whitening

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Can you tell me if Premium Home Whitening will work as well as the stuff I get at the dentist? I’m looking to whiten my teeth fast for a special event, but am hoping to avoid schedule a dental appointment.

Evelyn

Dear Evelyn,

teeth whiteninging trays

I’m glad you wrote. The Premium Home Teeth Whitening does have a valid whitening ingredient. However, even with that, it is not going to be as effective as the professional teeth whitening you get with your dentist.

The biggest issue for it is the trays. When you have teeth whitening done with your dentist, they should custom fit teeth whitening trays to your bite. The trays you get with the kit will not be fit to your bite. That means that some gel will escape the tray. That weakens the effectiveness of the gel because there is less gel. It is also weakened because your saliva gets into the tray, which dilutes it.

There is a secondary issue with the gel getting out of the tray. That means it can get onto your gums, which can cause irritation. There is even one case I know of where someone ended up needing a root canal treatment as a result of over the counter teeth whitening products.

The most effective and safe teeth whitening is what you would get from your dentist. If you’re looking for something super fast because of an upcoming event, then I would like to recommend that you look into Zoom Whitening. This is an in-office teeth whitening that can get your teeth very white in just one appointment. Any dentist can do either types of these whitening procedures if they offer it.

If you’re looking for something more, like a complete smile makeover, then I would suggest you look into porcelain veneers. These can change anything about your smile, including the shape, size, and color. However, veneers are a very advanced cosmetic procedure that requires extensive post-doctoral training and an artistic eye. I would make sure whatever cosmetic dentist you had do them are AACD accredited.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Will Rinsing with Peroxide Whiten My Teeth?

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I was talking to my dentist about teeth whitening. I wanted to know what was in it. When he said it was a peroxide gel, it occurred to me I could probably do the same thing at home rinsing with the peroxide I have. Would that not whiten my teeth? It seems like a much less expensive way to get the white smile I want.

Catherine

Dear Catherine,

The Teeth Whitening Gel Needs to Soak Into the Teeth

teeth whiteninging trays

In order for the peroxide to work, you would need the peroxide to stay on your teeth for a minimum of 15-20 minutes to do any good at all. It is important that the peroxide soaks into your teeth. I imagine rinsing with peroxide for even two minutes would seem like forever. I can’t imagine 15.

When your dentist provides you with teeth whitening gel, he also provides a custom-fitted tray. This allows the gel to soak into your teeth without you having to put forth any effort in keeping it there. Depending on how much you can tolerate and how quickly you want to whiten, you’d wear the trays anywhere from 20 minutes to overnight. The longer you can wear them, the faster your teeth will whiten.

The Teeth Whitening Gel Needs a Strong Concentration

In addition to time, there is the strength of the whitening gel to think about. Peroxide you get at the store is a 3% concentration. Crest Whitestrips, which are an over the counter whitening product that can cover about six teeth, has a 6% concentration and produces very mild results. The gel dentists provide is anywhere between 15% – 38% concentration. That is anywhere from 5 to 10 times stronger than what you could do on your own.

All that being said, if you are persistent enough and don’t mind being in it for the long haul, you could get some mild whitening results from rinsing with peroxide. Be careful, though, when you rinse, it is not just your teeth being affected by the peroxide. The tissue from your gums, tongue, and inside of your cheeks is being affected by the peroxide as well. This could lead to tissue damage.

This is another benefit of having the teeth whitening trays. They fit snug on your teeth in order to keep the gel away from the rest of your mouth.

If it is cost you are worried about, talk to your dentist about payment plans. If the cost isn’t really a problem and you are just always looking for ways to be frugal (a great quality by the way), then just go ahead and do it safely with your dentist. There is also a way to get all your teeth whitened in just one appointment using Zoom Whitening, though this does cost a little more than the take-home trays.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Can I Still Whiten My Teeth During COVID-19?

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I’ve been having my teeth whitened. My dentist made me teeth whitening trays and provided me some gel. When my gel runs out, he checks my gums and some other things and, if all is okay, gives me another supply of gel. Is it safe to continue with my teeth whitening or will I have to wait until this whole COVID-19 deal is over?

Amy

Dear Amy,

teeth whiteninging trays

If you still have gel, finish it. What happens from there will depend on the state you live in and the policies your dentist currently has. Several states have closed dental offices for all but emergency dental care. In that case, you can simply wait it out until this is over.

Other states are allowing certain procedures. There won’t be many dentists doing everything. A great deal of dental equipment is aerosolized, which puts the dentist and hygienists in danger of contracting COVID-19. You might think if you are asymptomatic then there is nothing for a dentist to worry about. Unfortunately, we are learning that someone can be asymptomatic and still be carrying the virus. If you’re hearty and healthy, your body just fights it better so you don’t show any symptoms. The problem is you will still pass it on to others whose systems can’t fight it as well.

One thing your dentist may do is just provide you with the gel and ask some questions in order to gauge how your gums are doing and whether or not you’re developing any tooth sensitivity. It isn’t ideal, but could allow you to continue with your teeth whitening while all of this sorts itself out.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

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